Urban

ENG – ILLU$$IONS: Zilon

Dark Montréal alley walls were the first to wear the marks of Zïlon. Nicknamed the “Cocteau of the alleys”, he was a leading figure of the underground punk movement in the 1980s in Montréal. It was a period of turmoil and artistic experimentation, sustained and characterized by a transmutation of disciplines, and a rejection of society’s rules. Zïlon has certainly made his mark in visual arts, but also in music and performance art. For over 30 years, his ability to constantly reinvent himself and his great versatility have made him an artist that transcends boundaries and generations. With over fifty exhibitions to his credit, his work has been seen in several major global cities, including New York, Paris and London.

Sébastien Lavoie: How old were you or when was your first contact with art? What did you like about it?

Zilon: My first contact with ART was early in LIFE, I was a toddler, a very young boy with crayons and papers (even some walls, but then I received quite a whopping from my father) …. I am a self-taught (autodidact) person, learning from many different sources, without the help of anyone. My parents never encouraged me to go on, they punished me instead.

Zilon – The Dépanneur Peur

SL: You work with a variety of mediums to communicate your art. I’ve seen your work on prints, walls, canvas, clothing, cars; Do you have a preference?

Zi: The VARIETY of mediums to express myself ??? I’ve got no preference, I love leaving my “signature” on everything I touch (have a grasp on). Maybe I think the best ones are still the walls ….

Zilon – The Dépanneur Peur

SL: When you create, you are using an unusual combination of colors (when not using black and white). What’s your affinity with colors and with the black and white?

Zi: For the subject of colours or B/W, I simply use them as I go I always have a black marker in my pocket, so I use simply go with B/W. When I have a considerable budget and a specific project I go with colours. My preference is B/W … I love it simple and direct. I have a need for colours to express myself. Some simple minimalists strokes on a surface is good enough for me.

Zilon – Station 16

SL: You have traveled and painted in a lot of cities around the world, do you have preferences or which one is your favorite? Why?

Zi: I have travelled to different cities. I have been to Vancouver, New Rok, Europe (Paris, Vienna, London, Amsterdam) to Tokyo, Japan. I left with my faithful black marker to do some “signatures” here and there, my “companions”, my Urban characters (faces). I dream of returning and maybe staying (and exhibiting) in Japan, Tokyo … it’s a BLAST !!! .

Zilon- Dance floor of the BAR BUSINESS

SL: Your work expresses ideas through images. Are there any subjects/themes that you care about, and that you like to integrate/explore in your art?

Zi: I express myself through my ART (faces and characters) with the feeling that I have at the moment about this MORBID (FUCKED-UP) CONTEMPORARY LIFE that we live IN … that INSTANT FA$T FOOD mentality, those ILLU$$IONS that we create on a daily basis … (FAKEBOOK and all those crappy $OCIAL NETWORK$ with those “Do or DON’T recipes”) .

Zilon – GIVENCHY in Paris, France 2013

SL: In your creative process, what are the things that come to you more easily or are more difficult?

Zi: In my creative works, the best things that can happen are meeting and collaborating with very good souls … the ones that you can have a great conversation with and sharing (and beautiful memories). The BAD side of it is of course the BU$INE$$ of AR , those pompous galleries, crapulous owner$$$ and the “Do this the way we think, it’s gonna $ELL well ” (so they can $UCK UP a pretty percentage from your TALENT) …. I just HATE those ART VAMPIRE$$$$ … They just suck totally in general and they are the reason for some artists giving up their ART and SOULS.

Zilon – Two of Hearts

SL: Does Music play a role in your inspiration/work?

Zi: Music is my OXYGEN … My START UP KIT for my ART actions … With no music, there’s NO FUN!!!

SL: Can you tell us about the projects you will be part of in the near future?

My up to date project is a BIG SOLO show @ the Diane Dufresne Center in Repentigny from June to September 2016. After that, well my destiny will point me where I’m going???

Zilon – PIRANHA GIRLZ

SL: What pieces of advice would you give to a young aspiring artist?

My advice for young contenders? Hmm??? …. Not to fall into the WRONG HANDS, SIGN OBSCURE CONTRACT$ and be far away from the bloody HAND$ of speculator$ that want to $UCK UP all your ENERGIES (and when they’re done,shove you away in the trash bin to replace you with the next NAIVE artist).

SL: In 10 years, how do you see yourself or your art?

What I will be or do in ten years??? That’s not an easy one ( LOL ). Maybe create more and have more “$ECURITY” ??? Or be DEAD!!!